The 17 best smartphones in the world

Android phones
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

The end of summer means the beginning of the smartphone season. And we already have our first taste of what's to come.

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Here's our ranking of the best phones you can buy right now in the US based on factors including design, software and hardware features, content selection, carrier availability, and price. We've included the approximate unsubsidized cost for each.

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#17 BlackBerry Passport

BlackBerry Passport in white
BlackBerry

The BlackBerry Passport is a funky-looking phone. It's almost perfectly square with a narrow physical keyboard at the bottom.

A lot of people like to scoff at the Passport, but BlackBerry fans seem to love it.

Price: Around $500

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#16 BlackBerry Classic

BlackBerry Classic
BlackBerry

The BlackBerry Classic looks a lot like the BlackBerry Bold from a few years ago. It has a physical keyboard, trackpad, and larger touchscreen. If you want a phone with a keyboard, the Classic is the best phone to buy.

Price: Around $449

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#15 Nokia Lumia 830

nokia lumia 830
Business Insider

The Nokia Lumia 830 is one of the most recent phones from Microsoft. It runs the Windows Phone 8 operating system and has a sharp 5-inch screen.

Price: Around $400

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#14 iPhone 5C

iPhone 5C
Flickr/Gadgetmac

The iPhone 5C may not be the most advanced phone in the world, but it's a good option for someone who wants access to all things Apple without paying a fortune.

Price: $449

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#13 Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

NoteEdge2.JPG
Business Insider/Lisa Eadicicco

The Note Edge is similar to the Galaxy Note 4, but it has a secondary screen on the side that changes depending on what app you're using. The "edge" screen can also display information like news updates and other notifications when the rest of the screen is switched off.

Click here for the Galaxy Note Edge review >>

Price: Around $800

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#12 Nexus 6

Nexus6Motorola
Motorola

Google's latest flagship phone is the Nexus 6, a massive device with a 6-inch screen. Google's Nexus phones are good if you want to make sure you get the latest Android features before anyone else.

Click here for the Nexus 6 review >>

Price: Starts at $499

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#11 iPhone 5S

iphone 5s box phone
William Wei, Business Insider

Apple's iPhone 5S may be approaching its second birthday, but it's still a really good phone, especially if you don't want a bigger screen. If you want a great iPhone experience at a discount, get the iPhone 5S.

Click here for the iPhone 5S review>>

Price: Starts at $549

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#10 OnePlus One

oneplus pne
Steve Kovach/Business Insider

What if you could get a phone with a huge 5.5-inch screen, great software, and zippy internal specs that rival the best smartphones?

That's what Chinese startup OnePlus did with its flagship phone, the One. The OnePlus One only costs $300 unlocked, which is much cheaper than other premium phones. 

Warning: The next phone from OnePlus, the OnePlus 2, is coming soon, so you might want to wait.

Click here for the OnePlus One Review >>

Price: $300 unlocked

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#9 Moto G

Moto G 2015
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

The new Moto G is a steal.

For just $180, you get a great Android phone without the bloated software extras you typically find in Samsung, LG, and HTC phones. If you want a great phone without spending a fortune, this is your best option.

Click here for a closer look at the Moto G >>

Price: $180

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#8 LG G4

LGG4.JPG
Lisa Eadicicco

The G4 is the latest flagship phone from LG. It has one of the best screens and best cameras ever put on a smartphone. But there have been a lot of complaints about the software design.

Click here for the LG G4 review >>

Price: Around $600

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#7 Moto X

Moto360Back.JPG
Business Insider/ Lisa Eadicicco

Motorola's new Moto X is a strong contender for best Android phone. Similar to Google's Nexus 6, the Moto X runs a nearly clean version of Android, meaning you get software updates a lot faster. The phone also looks really nice and has a 5.2-inch display.

Warning: The next version of the Moto X, the Moto X style, is coming in September.

Click here for the Moto X review >>

Price: Around $300

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#6 HTC One M9

htc one m9
Business Insider

HTC's flagship phone, the One M9, is a minor iteration over last year's model. It has a better camera, slightly tweaked design, and faster processor. That doesn't make it a bad phone though. HTC consistently makes some of the best Android phones, especially in terms of design and build quality. The M9 is no exception. But other than that, it's pretty much the same phone HTC made before.

Click here for the HTC One M9 review >>

Price: Around $630

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#5 Samsung Galaxy Note 4

samsung galaxy note 4
Business Insider

Samsung's new Galaxy Note 4 is the best Android phablet you can buy.

It has an incredibly crisp 5.7-inch screen, one of the best displays available on a phone. It also has a metal frame around the edges, which makes the phone feel a lot sturdier than previous versions. If you want a supersized phone, the Galaxy Note 4 is one of the top devices you should consider.

Warning: Samsung is expected to announce its next Note, the Galaxy Note 5, on August 13.

Click here for the Galaxy Note 4 review >>

Price: Around $700

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#4 Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

samsung Galaxy S 6 Edge
AP

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is a variation on the company's new flagship phone. It can do everything the "regular" Galaxy S6 does, but comes with a curved display that looks really nice.

Click here for the Galaxy S6 review >>

Price: About $750

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#3 Samsung Galaxy S6

Samsung Galaxy S 6
Business Insider

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is the best phone Samsung has ever made and the best Android phone you can buy.

It's Samsung's first phone with a premium metal and glass design. It also has one of the best cameras available in a phone.

Click here for the Samsung Galaxy S6 review >>

Price: Starts at about $650

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#2 iPhone 6

iPhone 6
Steven Tweedie

If you don't want a big-screen phablet, the iPhone 6 is the best phone you can buy. Unless you really like using Android or Windows Phones, the iPhone 6 should be your first choice.

Why? It's the perfect mix of design, hardware specs, and app selection. Apple also finally caught up to its competitors by adding a larger screen to the iPhone 6. It's 4.7 inches, up from the 4-inch screen on the iPhone 5S.

Warning: Apple will likely announce the next iPhone next month.

Click here for the iPhone 6 review >>

Price: Starts at $649

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#1 iPhone 6 Plus

iphone 6 plus one hand use
Business Insider

The iPhone 6 Plus is the best phone for most people. Yes, the 5.5-inch screen is huge and may feel cumbersome to some, but you get the added bonus of incredible battery life. It's also a lot thinner and easier to manage compared to other phablets.

If you're trying to decide between the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, go with the Plus.

Warning: Apple will likely announce the next iPhone next month.

Click here for the iPhone 6 Plus review >>

Price: Starts at $749

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BONUS: The Moto X Style is coming in September

Moto X Style
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

The Moto X Style is an update to Motorola's flagship Moto X line. The phone launches in September and features an improved camera and customizable colors and cases.

Price: $399

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BONUS: The Galaxy Note 5 launches this month

samsung galaxy note 4
Business Insider

Samsung is expected to announce its next phablet, the Galaxy Note 5, on August 13. Early reports suggest it'll also come in an "Edge" version with a curved screen like the Galaxy S6 Edge. 

The Note 5 will likely be the first phone to feature Samsung Pay, the upcoming mobile payments service from Samsung.

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BONUS: The iPhone 6S is coming next month

iPhone 6
Flickr/Kārlis Dambrāns

Apple typically announces new iPhone models in September, and this year probably won't be any different.

The so-called iPhone 6S is said to look similar to the current iPhone 6, but will have a better camera and a screen that can detect how hard you're pressing down on it.

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BONUS: The OnePlus 2 arrives in the fall

oneplus 2
Matt Weinberger/Business Insider

The OnePlus 2 will be the sequel to one of the hottest Android phones of 2014.

The phone has premium specs like a fingerprint sensor and powerful camera, but costs half as much as other high-end phones.

Click here for a closer look at the OnePlus 2 >>

Price: Starts at $329

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